Earthworm and termite diversity were studied in 12 long-term agricultural field trials across the subhumid
to semi-arid tropical zones of Eastern and Western Africa. In each trial, treatments with high and
low soil organic C were chosen to represent contrasts in long-term soil management effects, including
tillage intensity, organic matter and nutrient management and crop rotations. For each trial, a fallow representing
a relatively undisturbed reference was also sampled. Earthworm taxonomic richness decreased
in the direction fallow > high-C soil > low-C soil and earthworm abundance was higher in fallow than
under continuous crop production. Termite abundance was not significantly different between fallow
and high and low-C treatments and termite taxonomic richness was higher in fallow soil than in the
two cropping systems. We concluded that fewer species of earthworms and termites were favored under
agricultural management that led to lower soil C. Results indicated that the soil disturbance induced by
continuous crop production was more detrimental to earthworms than to termites, when compared to
the fallow.
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